The government has officially declared the homes of County Commissioners in Bungoma and Kwale as State Lodges, giving President William Ruto more places to stay during his travels across the country.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen made the announcement in a gazette notice dated April 17, 2025.
“It is notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration declares the Bungoma County Commissioner and Kwale County Commissioner’s official residences as State Lodges,” the notice read.
State Lodges serve as official residences for the President and other top government officials when carrying out duties away from Nairobi. They are managed by the State House Comptroller to ensure they are always ready for use.
This move comes as the government continues to spend billions of shillings on renovations at State Houses and Lodges across the country—raising concerns among some Kenyans.
According to a report released in March 2025 by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o, Sh7.81 billion has been set aside for renovation works. By the end of December 2024, Sh2.08 billion had already been spent.
Some of the biggest projects include the major upgrade of State House Nairobi, which is expected to cost Sh1.77 billion. So far, Sh775.74 million has already been used. However, there are concerns that the renovations might damage the building’s historical features.
The Eldoret State Lodge is also facing challenges. Renovations that began in 2015 are still incomplete, with only five per cent of the work done nearly a decade later. “Refurbishment of buildings at Eldoret State Lodge, which started in 2015, is merely at five per cent,” Nyakang’o noted in her report.
Other ongoing works include renovations at the Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri, which is valued at Sh388.76 million, with Sh106.91 million already spent. In Mombasa, the State House is undergoing improvements estimated at Sh1.18 billion, with Sh424.44 million used so far. The Kisumu State Lodge is being upgraded at a cost of Sh245.14 million. In Kakamega, renovations are expected to cost Sh265.26 million, with Sh52.93 million already spent. Meanwhile, the Kisii State Lodge is also undergoing major improvements at a cost of Sh795.75 million.
The report also noted additional spending of Sh422.36 million for the purchase of special machines and Sh428.56 million for building a mechanical garage.
Nyakang’o urged the government to improve its planning to avoid long delays in completing projects. “The delays to complete the works highlight the critical need for strategic planning and prioritisation to ensure timely project completion,” she said.
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